When I brought in this morning’s Merc, I noticed that the Sunday comics looked a little different. But I don’t read tomorrow’s paper until I’ve finished today’s, so I thought no more about it.

But there was a front-page box and a full-page announcement in today’s paper telling readers that, to conserve paper, the Sunday comics were being cut to four pages and many comics (including several of our favorites) were being relegated to online-only as of now.

I think it’s time for the Merc to consider changing its business model and reconstituting itself as “Public Merc”, supported by donations from readers, augmented by major sponsors like Fry’s, Macy’s, and Western Appliance. It can’t be much less effective than what’s happening now, can it?